Man, 64, convicted in ring

CRIME WATCH

A 64-year-old Baltimore man was among six people convicted this week at a federal trial in Greenbelt of being members of a large cocaine and heroin ring, prosecutors announced yesterday.

At the center of the case was Paulette Martin, 59, of Takoma Park, whom prosecutors accused of taking out insurance policies on her drug contacts and then cashing in hundreds of thousands of dollars when some of them died.

In addition to Martin, those convicted late Thursday by a federal jury were Learley Reed Goodwin, 63, of Hyattsville; Reece Coleman Whiting, 64, of Baltimore, Derrek Lewis Bynum, 34, of Hyattsville; Lavon Dobie, 46, of Washington; and LaNora Ali, 53, of Hyattsville

The jury was unable to reach a verdict for one remaining defendant, Ruby Bertine Harden, 34, of Dundalk. Those convicted could receive up to life in prison.